Hypertext Webster Gateway: "onset"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Onset \On"set`\, v. t.
1. To assault; to set upon. [Obs.]
2. To set about; to begin. [Obs.] --Carew.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Onset \On"set`\, n. [On + set.]
1. A rushing or setting upon; an attack; an assault; a
storming; especially, the assault of an army. --Milton.
The onset and retire Of both your armies. --Shak.
Who on that day the word of onset gave.
--Wordsworth.
2. A setting about; a beginning. [Obs.] --Shak.
There is surely no greater wisdom than well to time
the beginnings and onsets of things. --Bacon.
3. Anything set on, or added, as an ornament or as a useful
appendage. [Obs.] --Johnson.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
onset
n 1: the beginning or early stages; "the onset of pneumonia"
[syn: {oncoming}]
2: an offensive against and enemy (using weapons); "the attack
began at dawn" [syn: {attack}, {onslaught}, {onrush}]
Additional Hypertext Webster Gateway Lookup
Gateway by dict@stokkie.net
stock only wrote the gateway and does not have any control over the contents;
see the Webster Gateway FAQ,
and also the Back-end/database links and credits.